Scenic frame.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

E. OARNS. scnmc FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SCENIC FRAIVIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed December 24, 1904. Serial No. 238,235.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND B. CAR-NS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scenic Frames, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to scenic frames for use in theaters, exposition-halls, and other places of this class; and the object thereof is to provide an improved frame of this class which is simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive and at the same time strong and durable; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in a scenic frame constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a back view of a scenic frame made according to my invention and show ing the material on which the scene is placed secured thereto; Fig. 2, a view showing one corner of a modified form of a frame made according to my invention; Fig, 3, a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention, reference being made to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, I provide a frame of the class specified which comprises side members or stiles a, a top member or stile a and a bottom member or sill a and in the accompanying drawings the material I) on which the scene is painted or otherwise placed is shown secured to the front of the frame.

It will be understood, of course, that my improved scenic frame may be made of any desired dimension, and in practice the said frame is placed in a suitable form, where it is securely clamped, and the corners thereof are mitered corners, as shown at a and in practice flat dowel-keys c are driven through these corners from the apex thereof inwardly, and each corner is provided with a plurality of staples d, which are driven thereinto from the back of the frame forwardly and which cross the meeting points or joints of the corners, and in practice the bottom of the form in which the frame is placed is preferably composed of metal or provided with metal parts, and the pointed ends (1 of the staples (Z are clenched on the front side of the frame, as clearly shown.

In the form of construction shown my improved scenic frame is provided with cornershoes 6, which are secured thereto by screws or in any other desired manner; but these corner-shoes are not an essential feature of the invention, but are intended for use when the scenic frame is intended to be shipped from point to point, and in this event the cor' ner-shoes protect the corners of the frame and give greater strength and security thereto.

My improved scenic frame is also provided transversely of the central portion. thereof with a brace bar or rail f, the ends of which are secured to the side members or stiles a by means of metal plates f secured to the back thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and said bar or rail. f is also connected with the side members or stiles a by means of staples f, similar to the staples d, and which are driven in said bar or rail and in the side members or stiles a transversely of the frame corners formed by said bar or rail and by said side members a, and these staples are also driven in from the back of the frame in the manner of the staples d, and the free ends thereof are clenched, as in the case of said staples (1. These staplesf are also provided with a ring or similar devicef one of which is shown in Fig. 1, and the rings or similar devices f serve as attachments for props or braces when the frame is in use, and the cross bar or rail f is provided with a loop-shaped member f which projects upwardly therefrom and which also serves as an attachment for a prop or brace when the scenic frame is in use.

It will be observed that one or more of the staples d are secured in position transversely of the angle formed by the top, bottom, and. side members of the frame, and in this way in addition to securing the parts of the frame together, they also serve as braces and give additional strength thereto, and these staples are employed at all the corners of the frame; but in Fig. 1 of the drawings the staples at one corner are omitted and said corner is shown in section, so as to show the dowelkey 0 therein and themethod of securing the shoes 6 thereto.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown a modification in which one corner only of the frame is shown, and said corner is provided with a diagonal brace g, which is connected with the main frame members by staples g driven into said brace and the main frame members transversely of the joints or connections of said parts, and these staples are also driven in from the back of the frame and the front ends thereof are clenched in the manner of the staples d.

A scenic frame made in this manner is perfectly smooth and even on the front side thereof, and the scenic material I) may be pasted thereon or thereto or otherwise connected therewith in the usual or any desired manner and will also present a smooth and even surface.

It will be understood, of course, that in case of small frames the central transverse bar or rail f need not necessarily be employed, and in this event the prop or brace attachments f may be connected with other parts of the frame.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. A scenic frame which is rectangular in form and provided with mitered corners, said corners being provided with dowel-keys which are driven therethrough on the line of the miters, and said corners being also provided with staples which are driven into the frame transversely of the line of the miters and from the back of the frame, and the front ends of which are clenched, said frame being also provided with a transverse member connected with the side members of the frame by staples driven therethrough and through said side members transversely of the angles formed by said transverse member and from the back of the frame, and the front ends of which are clenched, substantially as shown and described.

2 A scenic frame which is rectangular in form and provided with mitered corners, said corners being provided with dowel-keys which are driven therethrough on the line of the miters, and said corners being also provided with staples which are driven into the frame transversely of the line of the miters and from the back of the frame, and the front ends of which are clenched, said frame being also provided with a transverse member connected with the side members of the frame by staples driven therethrough and through said side members transversely of the angles formed by said transverse member and from the back of the frame, and the front ends of which are clenched, and by plates secured to the ends of said transverse members and the side members at the back thereof, substantially as shown and described.

3. A scenic frame which is rectangular in form and the corners of which are connected by transverse staples driven therethrough from the back thereof, and the front ends of which are clenched, said corners being also provided with shoes, and said frame being also provided with a central transverse member connected with the side portions thereof by staples driven therethrough from the back of the frame. across the angles formed by the transverse member and the front ends of which are clenched, substantially as shown and described.

4. A scenic frame which is rectangular in form and the corners of which are connected by transverse staples driven therethrough from the back thereof, and the front ends of which are clenched, said corners being also provided with shoes, and said frame being also provided with a central transverse member connected with the side portions thereof by staples driven therethrough from the back of the frame across the angles formed by the transverse member and the front ends of which are clenched, and by plates secured to the back of said transverse member and the back of the side members of the frame, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 23d day of December, 1904.

EDMUND B. OARNS.

Witnesses:

C. J. KLEIN, F. A. STEWART. 

